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Messages - alexvd

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Developers / Re: Linuxmce chat function
« on: July 15, 2011, 12:01:19 am »
I dont have a development background but know people who do.  So I either have to A.  learn this or B. Ask for help.   Going to ask for help first.

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Developers / Re: Linuxmce chat function
« on: July 13, 2011, 06:27:20 am »
Thom going to see if I can get some help from a colleague on this. 

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Developers / Linuxmce chat function
« on: July 12, 2011, 12:58:57 am »
Does linuxmce currently have a presence/chat client capability?    I have some personal experience working with xmpp.  It would be nice right from the orbiter to send to the bottom of the screen chat messages.  Or alternatively get notifications to an orbiter based on events triggered.  The have a pub/sub mechanism that works in realtime.  The military actually uses it on the battlefield because it works so well in realtime.

Jabber has an open library that is accessible to anyone for free that has a proof of concept web based client that works with ajax.  One is in development for C++  but not ready.    Basically means you dont have to be a xmpp developer to embed presence and instant messaging into your webpage or app. 

Has this been discussed before?

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Users / Re: Multiroom Audio for Whole House
« on: July 12, 2011, 12:52:09 am »
Andrew so I should clarify.  We have built a new home that is wired for audio in every room.  We only have 4 people currently living in the home and two of them are under 5 years old.   So really we are only talking about the real need to have two possibly three independent audio locations at the same time.    In fact its more likely just two because the kids mostly would be watching kids tv shows somewhere and not even want or need a separate audio source. 

With Pandora we would each get to create our own account.  So this would mean that myself or my wife would select thier own account from the orbiter than choose to stream where appropriate.    I for example will have it playing in the background for my office while my wife would have it running in the gym and than maybe move towards the bathroom and than to the kitchen.  Or she might want to turn it on for the whole second floor to make it easier.   So all six locations upstairs at one time.

Your example of the matrix switcher is an interesting one.   I have been running my LMCE configuration with all my DirectTV recievers, Surround Sound Recievers in the basement rack and using a global cache to route the ir.   I may rethink using a similar approach.

Another question I have is around touch orbiters inwall.   Does the current touch orbiter allow for different icons (skin) based on docked or undocked state?   My thought is that when device is docked in the iPort wall dock I would like it to display perhaps the current room temp or forecast.   ( havent thought this through).   If someone removes the dock than it would automatically go back to the current dianemo skin with the main menu choices. 




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Users / Re: Multiroom Audio for Whole House
« on: July 10, 2011, 07:05:32 pm »
Andrew have you done any large installs like this?   What is your perspective.  Does Linuxmce struggle due to the architecture for a scenario like this?

Appreciate any input here. 

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Users / Multiroom Audio for Whole House
« on: July 09, 2011, 07:17:04 pm »
Hello I have read through the forums and the wiki on multiroom audio configurations.   I have a built a new home and plan to have 17 distinct locations where I will require audio.    The speakers are speakercraft in cieling.   I am wiring speaker home runs to each location currently.  Most of the rooms I have purchased Apple iTouch's that are mounted in iPort Wall Docks.  I am currently evaluating if I will need/want to get a couple iPad 1 mounted in wall because they are larger and easier to manipulate for two key locations.     I plan to wire cat 6 to each in-wall touch panel for power and network and each room will also be wired  for local based control even if its not required (future planning)   All wiring home runs to the basement rack.   I currently have a Squeezebox and have run squeezeserver on my old existing linuxmce core.

I will have 3 MD setups  in the main tv viewing locations and I will have the DT Research Tabletop touch panels and a squeezebox.   However my goal is not to use those setups to control or power the whole house audio. 

My goal is to be able to have local independent audio and source control for each room as well as "party mode" or play through the whole house syncd.    I have made the determination I really only care about two audio sources Pandora and terrestrial radio.   Having a ripped mp3 library is too much work when Pandora makes life so easy.  Once in a while I might need to play a cd if someone brings one but I am moving away from physical media.
In addition I have built a highly effecient house so I want to use a solution that reduces energy consumption or handles it in a smart way.   

In the regular world I could purchase Elan Multiroom audio or a Grand Concerto system or equivalent with wall pads or use the Itouchs.    I would require a multisource controller and then two amps.   However given that I have basically just two sources and I have touch orbiters for linuxmce this would be both expensive and redundant. 

Based on the posts I have seen In Linuxmce  I could accomplish this one of two ways
1  using usb audio cards and squeezeslave.
2. 15 squeezeboxes 

My first question is
1  Anyone have a setup like this with this many locations.
2.  I saw posts where it talks about 5+ zones and the required = of usb ports.  No motherboards have 15 ports.  Could this be done with pci usb cards 3 four ports?  Also will it really require 3-5 watts per usb audio card when running?  I wont be running it all the time but I wonder what the idle state would be?  Is it 1watt?  I could measure with my Killawatt if needed. 
3. The usb linux sound cards I see are two channel audio.  I guess for a low quality source like streaming pandora that should be fine from a audio quality perspective right.  I AM NOT A AUDIOPHILE.  So I dont need bit perfect audio however I dont want it to sound like crap either. 
4. I dont think I am going to buy  15 T amps and wire them individually to each room.  That would be a lot of idle standby wasted power.      I plan to get an Elan D12 amp that has an ultra low power sleep mode and instant on.    Can I use 1 or 2 amps directly with the usb sound cards or will I then need a multisource controller to direct the audio?  I need local audio control in room or by touch orbiter as well as party mode.

   

 

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Users / Re: Irrigation & Rain8net
« on: May 06, 2011, 03:24:28 am »
All sent the device to Hari.  He should have it by now.   My hope is he will work on it when he can and we will all benefit.




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Users / Re: Irrigation & Rain8net
« on: April 07, 2011, 03:12:36 am »
Hello I have the Rain8 devices now.   Hari I have sent you an email and as soon as you get me your shipping address I will get you the device. 


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Developers / Re: zigbee support
« on: March 26, 2011, 02:31:36 pm »
Tim that is great news.  Please share it when you can.

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Users / Re: Irrigation & Rain8net
« on: March 25, 2011, 01:49:33 pm »
Kezza,

Thanks for your reply as well.  The installation of the actual sprinkler heads and control box in the yard is relatively simple. Can you explain more about the 1-wire support and temperature. 

I have a very advanced radiant heat install from Uponor.  I have been struggling with how to integrate this into LMCE.  The options from Uponor and the company the oem for Thermostats Tekmar are expensive and not great.

I will start another thread to discuss.

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Users / Re: Irrigation & Rain8net
« on: March 25, 2011, 01:37:25 pm »
Hari I will send one to you along with the rain sensor.   Moisture probes would be outstanding if that could be done as well but not expecting that. 

I will jump into irc to get your information to send it to you.  I am in the US so will just have to figure out the best way to get it to you.  Unless you want me to just paypal you some dollars and I can do that too.

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Developers / Re: zigbee support
« on: March 25, 2011, 01:33:16 pm »
I work for a company that recently put funding into Control4 and is now OEMing their product.  I will ask internally if thier is anyway to get a controller or documentation.  Its for internal use only and not for resale so it shouldnt violate any terms.  If I can get one I will send it to hari.


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Users / Re: Irrigation & Rain8net
« on: March 25, 2011, 12:56:52 am »
Thanks Andrew. I am going to go ahead an purchase a Rain8net for RS232.  I have never really built a template but I could give it a try.    That would cover support of the device.  However what about the actual software control.  I mean I suppose it could be as simple as once per day turn on this zone for 30 minutes. Then 15mins turn on this zone etc.  The other issue is what about integrating the rain sensor.  I dont want my sprinklers going off in the rain.   

 Is it hard to build another tab for irrigation?   This might be out of my league.    Your in the uk but it would be great if I could send one of these to Thom, Hari, Tim or someone who would be willing to build out more support for everyone.   I am kinda suprised you never had the request from one of your customers for irrigation. 




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Developers / zigbee support
« on: March 24, 2011, 09:27:57 pm »
I realize that this is probably asking way too much but is thier any plans to support zigbee?  I think I had asked before and hari said no.  I realize its a ton of work but just curious if this could be done.

One of the strengths of LMCE is that it can support so many different protocols.   Its what keeps me coming back vs going out and buying homeseer or control4.   

The reason I ask is that I have a bunch of zwave sensors but thier are also some zigbee devices I would like but I cant use or support because they are zigbee only.   

If not support exists does anyone know of a bridge.  Would  that be even feasible.  I see that someone wrote a HAI bridge so I guess it might be possible.  The only bridge I saw was from Bulogics but I think that is only for smartmetering.


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Users / Irrigation & Rain8net
« on: March 24, 2011, 09:18:02 pm »
I am rebuilding a new home. So I had to disable my lmce system.  I cannot remember if thier was a way to control irrigation controlers and set schedules  from LMCE.  I was planning to purchase a Rain8 controller. The different options they have are rs232, upb and x10.  I was going to purchase 2 controllers and hook them up via my globalcache 100.  

Does anyone know if their is a template in thier for Rain8.  I remember way back when pluto (aaron) saying thier was support.  Looking through the forums I think some people have tried but never got anywhere.  

I would be happy to send a rain8 net out to a developer if they can build a template.  

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